Horse-drawn caravans ply roads to famous horse fair

Motorists in Cumbria have been warned to watch out for slow horse-drawn caravans as gypsies and travellers make their annual pilgrimage to Appleby for its famous annual horse fair.

Cumbria police issued the warning ahead of the long weekend, noting the extra traffic that would be on the road, including bikers, who enjoy the winding rural roads and views around Cumbria.

"Riders who are familiar with our rural roads regularly enjoy quiet and relatively traffic-free routes," Inspector Andy Wilkinson said.

"However, they may get a shock ... when they see so many vehicles and slow horse-drawn caravans using fast A-roads as they make their way to Appleby Horse Fair."

Vehicles travelling to Appleby Horse Fair, which runs from June 3, use popular biking routes, he added.

"Horse-drawn vehicles travel at walking speed and if a biker comes around a bend travelling at 40-60mph and sees a horse drawn vehicle in front of them, they will be forced to slow down extremely quickly."

Meanwhile, the group that undertakes the operation planning for the fair each year says it will set up a daily forum involving gypsies, travellers and the local settled community so any issues that may arise during the fair can be discussed.

Police officers working as part of the Multi-Agency Strategic Coordination Group (MASCG) say the forum will take place at 7pm throughout the course of the fair.

It will be an opportunity for those involved to provide feedback on what is going well and highlight any issues.

Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham, in charge of policing of the fair, said: "Our top priority during Appleby Fair is making sure that it is as safe and enjoyable as possible for everybody.

"This means that we have the difficult job of balancing the needs of local communities, who have their neighbourhood temporarily transformed, and gypsies and travellers who travel far and wide to honour the ancient traditions of their family event.

"After listening to feedback from last year, we have decided to personally invite key members from both local settled communities and the different gypsy and traveller sites in Appleby to a daily forum.

"Here, they will be given the opportunity to ask questions, highlight things that are working well or discuss any issues that they, or their neighbours, may have.

"We hope that this will be a new way of giving each community a voice and an opportunity to provide instant feedback to the Multi-Agency Group that works to co-ordinate the fair."

Around 20 people from the local community and gypsy and traveller groups have been approached by the MASCG and invited to attend the Community Advisory Group, which will be closed to the general public.

The MASCG consists of representatives from Eden District Council, Cumbria Constabulary, Cumbria County Council, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, Cumbria NHS, North West Ambulance Service, RSPCA, Environment Agency, South Lakeland District Council, Highways Agency and HMRC.